 |
Comprehensive information about diving and undersea medicine for the non-medical diver, the non-diving physician and the specialist. |
|
References to Pulmonary Barotrauma
J Emerg Med 1998 May-Jun;16(3):413-7
Fatal pulmonary barotrauma due to obstruction
of the central circulation with air.
Neuman TS, Jacoby I, Bove AA
Hyperbaric Medicine Center and Department of Emergency Medicine,
University
of California Medical Center, San Diego, USA.
Cardiac arrest in cases of barotraumatic arterial gas embolism (AGE)
is usually
ascribed to reflex dysrhythmias secondary to brainstem embolization
or secondary
to coronary artery embolization. Several case reports suggest that
obstruction of
the central circulation (i.e., the heart, pulmonary arteries, aorta,
and arteries to the
head and neck) may play a role in the pathogenesis of sudden death
in victims of
pulmonary barotrauma. We report three consecutive cases of fatal AGE
in patients
in whom chest roentgenograms demonstrated confluent air lucencies
filling
the
central vascular bed, the heart, and great vessels. In none of the
victims was there
evidence by history or at autopsy that the intravascular gas was
iatrogenically
introduced. Total occlusion of the central vascular bed with air is
a mechanism of
death in some victims of AGE, and resuscitation efforts for such
patients
should take this possibility into consideration.
Undersea Hyperb Med 1997 Winter;24(4):301-8
Recompression treatments during the recovery of
TWA Flight 800.
Leffler CT, White JC
Medical Department, Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia, USA.
After the crash of TWA flight 800, U.S. Navy (USN) and civilian
divers
recovered
the aircraft and the victims' remains from 117 feet of sea water (fsw).
Safety
information was gathered from observations, interviews, and medical
and diving
records. Of 752 dives employing surface decompression using oxygen
(SDO2), 10
divers required recompression treatments, mainly for type 2
decompression
sickness (DCS). When using hot water heating, the DCS risk was high
until the
dive profiles were modified. Divers made nearly 4,000 no-decompression
scuba
dives. In eight scuba divers and one tender treated with recompression,
the
diagnoses included DCS (3), arterial gas embolism (AGE) (1), and
vascular
headache (2). All USN divers recovered fully. The experience is
consistent
with
previous work suggesting an increase in DCS risk in warmer SDO2 divers.
The
USN SDO2 tables can be made safer by limiting bottom time and extending
decompression. Even under stressful conditions, rapid ascents resulting
in AGE are
uncommon. Vascular headaches can mimic DCS by responding to oxygen.
Aviat Space Environ Med 1997 Nov;68(11):1025-8
Neurological manifestation of arterial gas
embolism following standard altitude chamber
flight: a case report.
Rios-Tejada F, Azofra-Garcia J, Valle-Garrido J, Pujante Escudero A
Centro de Instruccion de Medicina Aeroespacial (C.I.M.A.), Madrid,
Spain.
In the course of a decompression at flight level 280 (28,000 ft) in
an altitude
chamber flight, a 45-yr-old cabin air traffic controller developed
sudden numbness
in his left upper and lower extremities and, soon after, complete
paralysis
in the
left side, dysarthria and left facial palsy. A presumptive diagnosis
of arterial gas
embolism (AGE) was made and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) was given
after
airevac of the patient to the closest compression facility. Complete
resolution of
the symptoms was obtained after treatment Table VI-A (extended), plus
3
consecutive HBO treatments (90 min of Oxygen at 2.0 ATA). AGE is a
rare event
in the course of regular altitude chamber flight and diagnosis should
be done in the
context of the barometric pressure changes and an acute cerebral
vascular
injury.
Risk factors and follow-up diagnostic procedures are discussed.
Chest 1997 Sep;112(3):654-9
Risk factors for pulmonary barotrauma in divers.
Tetzlaff K, Reuter M, Leplow B, Heller M, Bettinghausen E
Department of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine, Naval Medical Institute,
Kiel,
Germany.
STUDY OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary barotrauma (PBT) of ascent is a feared
complication in compressed air diving. Although certain respiratory
conditions are
thought to increase the risk of suffering PBT and thus should preclude
diving, in
most cases of PBT, risk factors are described as not being present.
The purpose of
our study was to evaluate factors that possibly cause PBT. DESIGN:
We analyzed
15 consecutive cases of PBT with respect to dive factors, clinical
and radiologic
features, and lung function. They were compared with 15 cases of
decompression
sickness without PBT, which appeared in the same period. RESULTS:
Clinical
features of PBT were arterial gas embolism (n=13), mediastinal
emphysema
(n=1), and pneumothorax (n=1). CT of the chest (performed in 12 cases)
revealed
subpleural emphysematous blebs in 5 cases that were not detected in
preinjury and
postinjury chest radiographs. A comparison of predive lung function
between
groups showed significantly lower midexpiratory flow rates at 50% and
25% of
vital capacity in PBT patients (p<0.05 and p<0.02, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that divers with preexisting small
lung
cysts and/or end-expiratory flow limitation may be at risk of PBT.
Chest. 1997 Sep;112(3):654-9.
Chest. 1995 Jun;107(6):1648-52.
Br J Radiol. 1997 May;70(833):440-5.
Pneumologie. 1996 Dec;50(12):902-5. German.
Singapore Med J. 1993 Feb;34(1):16-9.
Chest. 1997 Sep;112(3):576-8.
Aviat Space Environ Med. 1996 Dec;67(12):1198-200.
Chest. 1998 Dec;114(6):1791-3.
|
|
|
Ernest Campbell, MD, FACS All Rights Reserved.
HOME > Arterial Gas Embolism > Here
|
